Denmark

Standing Orders
of the Danish
Parliament
– 2021
Standing Orders
of the Danish
Parliament
– 2021
Standing Orders of the Danish Parliament
Published by the Danish Parliament 2021
Number of copies: 500
Cover photo: Anders Hviid
Print: Grafisk Rådgivning
ISBN: 978-87-7982-215-3
Contents
Standing Orders of the Danish Parliament . . . . . 5
Chapter I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Chapter III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Chapter IV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Chapter V . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Chapter VI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Chapter VII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Chapter VIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Chapter IX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Chapter X . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Chapter XI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Chapter XII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Chapter XIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Chapter XIV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Chapter XV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Chapter XVI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Chapter XVII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Chapter XVIII . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Chapter XIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Annex
Rules on the time allotted to speakers etc. . . . 101
Standing Orders of the Danish Parliament | 5
Standing Orders
of the Danish
Parliament
CHAPTER I
Temporary Speaker, Scrutiny of Elections
§1
(1) When the first sitting of the Danish Parlia-
ment (the Folketing) is held after a general
election, it is the senior Member who presides
when electing a temporary Speaker to chair
the debates until the scrutiny of the elections
has taken place in accordance with the rules
in section 36(2). The office of senior Member
falls upon the person among the Members
present who has served as a Member of the
Danish Parliament for the longest period.
Should this method lead to a choice between
several persons, the older Member comes
before the younger.
6 | Standing Orders of the Danish Parliament
(2) The Danish Parliament sets up a temporary

committee of 21 Members to scrutinize the
elections.
(3) The committee examines the records of

the election committee, the calculations made
by the Ministry of the Interior and Housing and
other material which has been forwarded to
the Danish Parliament on behalf of the Minis-
ter for the Interior and Housing, in accordance
with section 86 in the Parliamentary Election
Act of Denmark, and on behalf of the Prime
Minister. The committee also deals with com-
plaints about the elections, and subsequently
makes a report on the elections to the Danish
Parliament which includes an approval of the
most suited candidate in cases in which an
elected candidate is no longer in a position
to take his/her seat in Parliament or does not
wish to take it.
(4) Elections which are unanimously approved

by the committee may be subject to oral
recommendations in the Danish Parliament
without the observance of any time limits.
Subsequently, the Danish Parliament takes a
decision on these elections jointly.
(5) As for elections which are not unanimously

recommended for approval, the commit-
tee submits a report which shall have been
published on one of the Danish Parliament
websites prior to the meeting during which
the matter is debated. The Danish Parliament
then decides separately for each election
whether to approve it or reject it or whether an
approval can be postponed. If this is the case,
the matter is referred to the standing Electoral
Scrutineers’ Committee (cf. section 7(1)). The
Danish Parliament may, when scrutinizing the
elections, take measures in accordance with
the legislation on elections.
(6) As for Members who have been elected in

Greenland – should the final results of these
elections not be at hand – the Committee may
submit a recommendation for approval to the
Danish Parliament on the basis of a provisional
calculation in accordance with the Act on
General Elections in Greenland. If an approval
is obtained on this basis, the Danish Parlia-
ment decides whether the approval will remain
valid. The decision is reached on the recom-
mendation of the standing Electoral Scruti-
neers’ Committee.
(7) The decision as to whether an election is

valid or not is reached by taking a vote for or
against the approval of its validity.
(8) Members whose election has not been

approved cannot sit on a committee or on the
temporary committee mentioned in subsec-
tion 2. Neither can they take part in the de-
bates or voting in the Danish Parliament. They
can, however, take part in the debates and
voting during the general scrutiny of elections
for as long as their own election has not been
rejected or approval of it postponed.
(9) A Member whose election has been ap-

proved but who has not yet made the declara-
tion mentioned in section 32(7) of the Consti-
tutional Act of the Kingdom of Denmark can
neither sit on a committee nor take part in the
debates or voting in the Danish Parliament.
CHAPTER II
Speaker, Deputy Speakers, Tellers
§2
(1) The Danish Parliament constitutes itself by
electing a Presidium composed of a Speaker
and up to 4 Deputy Speakers. In addition, 4
Tellers are elected. No Member can decline
to accept election without the consent of the
Danish Parliament.
(2) Elections are held at the opening of every

session, i.e. at the beginning of every sessional
year and when the Danish Parliament meets
for the first time after a general election.
Moreover, a new Presidium shall be elected if
the Speaker resigns or if 60 Members request
it in writing and at no less than 3 days’ notice.
(3) Elections of Members to sit on the Presid-

ium and of Tellers are held under the direction
of the senior Member when the Danish Parlia-
ment meets for the first time in a session. After
general elections, they do, however, take place
under the direction of the temporary Speaker
and in other cases under that of the acting
Speaker.
§3
(1) The Presidium of the Danish Parliament
is elected in the following way. The Speaker
is elected without a debate in accordance
with the rules in section 36(2). Excepting the
parliamentary group to which the Speaker
belongs, the four largest parliamentary groups
represented in the Danish Parliament, ac-
cording to the size of the group, elect a first, a
second, a third and a fourth Deputy Speaker
respectively. If two or more of the parliamen-
tary groups are of the same size, lots shall be
drawn.
(2) Tellers are elected according to propor-

tional representation in accordance with the
rules laid down in section 36(1).
§4
(1) The Speaker sees to it that the work of the
Danish Parliament is planned and carried out
in a responsible way.
(2) The Speaker chairs the debates in the

Chamber and sees to it that order is main-
tained and that the form of the debates is
sufficiently dignified. All Members are obliged
to follow the Speaker’s decision on the mainte-
nance of order (cf. also chap. XI).
(3) Should the Speaker wish to take part in the

debates in the Chamber in addition to chairing
them, one of the Deputy Speakers is asked to
take the chair.
§5
If the Speaker is prevented from being pre-
sent, one of the Deputy Speakers – or if he/she
is also prevented, one of the Tellers according
to seniority – assumes all his/her tasks.
§6
(1) In so far as is necessary, the Tellers lend
their assistance when a vote is taken. In cases
in which votes are taken according to section
35(3) and (4), they count the votes and inform
the Speaker about the figures arrived at. If it
is a question of a roll call, one of the Tellers
undertakes the roll call.
(2) If at least two Tellers are not present at a

sitting, the Speaker can designate one or two
of the Members who are present to assume
the task of temporary Teller(s).
CHAPTER III
Committees
§7
(1) At the opening of each sessional year (cf.
section 2(2)), the following standing commit-
tees are set up:
1. The Standing Orders Committee

2. The Electoral Scrutineers’ Committee
3. The Employment Committee
4. The Domestic Affairs and Housing
Committee
5. The Children’s and Education
Committee
6. The Epidemics Committee
7. The Business Committee
8. The European Affairs Committee
9. The Finance Committee
10. The Defence Committee
11. The Naturalization Committee
12. The Ecclesiatical Affairs Committee
13. The Climate, Energy and Utilities
Committee
14. The Cultural Affairs Committee
15. The Gender Equality Committee
16. The Environment and Food Committee
17. The Legal Affairs Committee
18. The Fiscal Affairs Committee

19. The Social Affairs and Senior
Citizens’ Committee
20. The Health Committee
21. The Transport Committee
22. The Higher Education and Research
Committee
23. The Foreign Affairs Committee
24. The Immigration and Integration
Committee
25. The Rural Districts and Islands
Committee
(2) The Standing Orders Committee lays down

the rules on the spheres of competence of the
committees, including EU matters. However,
the Danish Parliament may deviate from these
rules when referring Bills to the individual
committees. The Standing Orders Committee
may also decide to change the names of the
committees.
(3) The Standing Orders Committee is com-

posed of the Presidium of the Danish Par-
liament and a number of Members of the
Danish Parliament, sufficient to make the total
number of Members 21. Any parliamentary
group not represented on the Committee can
appoint a Member who is entitled to take part
in the debates of the Committee but who is not

entitled to vote or to make any statement in
the report submitted by the Committee. The
Speaker of the Danish Parliament is Chair-
man of the Committee and the first Deputy
Speaker is Vice-Chairman of the Committee.
The other standing committees are composed
of 17 Members.
(4) The Electoral Scrutineers’ Committee, The

Finance Committee and the Naturalization
Committee comprise 17 Members each. The
Epidemics Committee comprises 21 Members.
The other standing committees, cf., however,
subsection 3, comprise 29 Members each.
(5) Members who belong to a parliamentary

group which is not represented by Members
on the committees mentioned in subsec-
tion 1, nos. 1-5, are entitled to sit on two of the
committees mentioned in subsection 1, nos.
3-5, 7, 8, 10 and nos. 12-25, and to take part in
the debates of the committee in question. But
they are neither entitled to vote nor to make
any statements in the report submitted by the
committee. A Member who does not belong
to a parliamentary group as mentioned in sec-
tion 36(1) has the same rights. Membership of
that order must be notified to the Speaker of

the Danish Parliament via the Legal Services
Office.
(6) At the opening of each session, the Danish

Parliament shall appoint 2 Members to super-
vise the Danish Parliament Library. Further-
more, the Danish Parliament shall appoint 9
Members who are to supervise the treatment
of persons who have been deprived of their
liberty in the manner referred to in section
71(6) of the Constitutional Act (cf. section 71(7).
(7) The Danish Parliament can also set up ad

hoc committees to deal with individual mat-
ters. Other matters may likewise be referred
to such committees, which shall consist of 17
Members, either immediately or at a later date.
An ad hoc committee shall be dissolved when
the Danish Parliament has finished dealing
with the matter(s) referred to it. However, the
Danish Parliament may, on the recommenda-
tion of the committee in question, decide that
the committee shall remain in existence until
the end of the session in question.
(8) An ad hoc committee can also be set

up prior to the time at which the matter in
question is about to be read in the Chamber, if

the respective Minister or Member so wishes
and the Danish Parliament gives its consent.
§8
(1) The distribution af chairmanships and
vice-chairmanships in the Committees is
undertaken according to the system of pro-
portional representation, cf., however, section
7(3), in the same manner as when electing
Committee Members, cf. section 36, unless
the electoral groups have agreed on another
procedure. When electing a Chairman and a
Vice-Chairman, cf. clauses 7 and 8 and sub-
section 2, the Committees shall respect the
distribution made, cf. clause 1. At the open-
ing of each sessional year, the Members of
the individual committees elect a Chairman
and a Vice-Chairman. If the name of only one
candidate has been put forward as Chairman
and Vice-Chairman respectively, the Speaker
of the Danish Parliament notifies the election
and also notifies the setting up of the commit-
tee. The notification, which is made by means
of a notice on one of the Danish Parliament
websites, is included in the minutes of the
debates in the Chamber. The Members of the
Danish Parliament can before 12.00 p.m. on
the day following the election complain to the
Legal Services Office about the election. If the

names of several candidates have been put
forward, or if the election has been subject to
complaints, the Speaker of the Danish Parlia-
ment calls the Members of the committee in
question to a constituting meeting, which shall
be held within 3 session days counting from
the day on which the committee was set up.
During the constituting meeting, a Chairman
and a Vice-Chairman are elected among the
Members of the committee in accordance
with the rules in section 36(2).
(2) If a Chairman or a Vice-Chairman is to be

elected in the course of a sessional year, the
election shall take place at a meeting in the
committee in question in accordance with the
rules laid down in section 36(2).
(3) Ordinary committee meetings are held

behind closed doors unless the committee
in question decides otherwise, cf. section 8.
However, when dealing with questions relating
to Ministers’ responsibility, the provisions laid
down in chap. XVIII apply.
(4) Only the Committee Members can take

decisions during committee meetings. A com-
mittee forms a quorum when more than half of
its Members are present. Decisions are taken

by simple majority, cf., however, subsections 1
and 2.
(5) Upon request, a committee may decide to

receive deputations. Such visits take place
according to guidelines laid down by the Pre-
sidium.
(6) A committee may ask a Minister to reply

to questions put by the committee. Questions
are submitted in writing, and the committee
may request a written reply or ask the Minis-
ter to give an oral reply during a consultation
at a committee meeting. The committee may
request a reply to be given within a given time
limit. If such a limit has not been indicated,
the Minister should not later than 4 weeks
after the question has been put have given a
reply or have informed the committee as to
when they can expect a reply. If the Minister
is not in a position to give a reply, the Minister
should at his/her earliest convenience – and
at least within 4 weeks – state this in writing.
(7) Persons participating in a closed com-

mittee meeting are not allowed to pass on
information about the debates to the public,
unless the committee has decided otherwise.
The committee cannot take the decision to

pass on information which according to leg-
islation or other relevant provisions is confi-
dential. Likewise, such information must not
be given or be referred to at open committee
meetings.
(8) A consultation may be open or closed. An

open consultation shall be held if at least 3
committee members request it. If open con-
sultations are held, they are tape-recorded or
otherwise registered electronically. It is, how-
ever, up to the individual committee to plan
and carry out committee work and, if required,
to decide to invite other persons to take part in
all or one of the committee meetings.
(9) In addition to ordinary meetings, a commit-

tee may hold other meetings including:
a) Open meetings during which one or

more subjects are debated. Prior to the
meeting, the committee can decide
who will be entitled to take part in the
debate.
b) Open theme meetings at which the
committee Members and a Minister
invited by the committee discuss main
themes belonging to the spheres of
competence of the committee. The

committee takes a decision on the form
of the theme meeting and on the pub-
lic’s access to the meeting.
c)
Hearings etc. during which persons
whom the committee has requested
to make a statement on a subject and
voice their points of view can do so.
The committee decides on the form of
the hearing and on whether the public
should be granted access.
(10) A hearing may be held jointly by several

committees.
(11) The European Affairs Committee may

ask one of the other committees to make a
statement concerning an EU proposal. The
committee in question subsequently makes a
statement within the time limit fixed in the re-
quest. The committee in question may appoint
a Member to submit the committee’s state-
ment to the European Affairs Committee.
(12) When Bills or proposals for parliamentary

resolution submitted by one or more Members
of the Danish Parliament are being dealt with
by a committee, and the proposer – or the
spokesman for the proposers, as the case may
be – has not been elected to sit on the com-

mittee, he/she nevertheless has the right to
take part in the proceedings concerning the
matter in question, but without having the right
to vote or to make statements on the report.
(13) Members of the Danish Parliament elected

in the Faroe Islands or in Greenland have the
right to take part when the committee deals
with proposals concerning the Faroe Islands
or Greenland. But they do not have the right
to vote or to make statements on the report
unless they have been elected to sit on the
committee in question.
(14) A Member who takes a special interest in a

case being dealt with by the European Affairs
Committee and who has been chosen by his/
her parliamentary group to deal with the mat-
ter in question, is entitled to take part in the
debate on the matter in the European Affairs
Committee. The right to vote and to make
statements to reports etc. can only be enjoyed
by the member, if he/she is also a Member of
the European Affairs Committee. In accord-
ance with this provision, only one Member
from each parliamentary group can take part
in the debates of the European Affairs Com-
mittee each time a negotiation takes place.
(15) The committee clerk draws up the minutes

of the committee meetings, including infor-
mation on the date and hour of the meeting,
enquiries addressed to the committee as well
as the subjects discussed and the outcome of
the deliberations.
(16) Standing as well as ad hoc committees

shall have one or more clerks on their staff.
Such clerks shall, save in exceptional circum-
stances which can be justified, belong to the
staff of the Danish Parliament and be gradu-
ates in law or economics or have received a
corresponding training. The clerk shall advise
the Chairman of the committee and the Mem-
bers as to the planning and carrying out of the
committee work. The assistance comprises
the practical planning of the committee work,
providing information to the committee or to
its individual Members and the elaboration
of the committee report. Furthermore, the
clerk lends assistance in elaborating Bills or
other resolutions which the Members wish to
introduce.
§8a
(1) It is incumbent upon the Chairman of a
committee to expedite the committee work. A
written or oral account of the progress of the
committee work shall be made at the Speak-

er’s request.
(2) When a committee has finished deal-

ing with a matter which is to be taken up for
subsequent reading in the Danish Parliament,
it submits a report or – if the committee has
previously submitted a report on the matter –
a supplementary report (if desired, a supple-
ment to the report or to the supplementary
report), which is published on one of the Dan-
ish Parliament websites. The matter shall be
debated in the Danish Parliament not earlier
than 2 days after the report has been pub-
lished, however, cf. section 18(2). In case of the
committee disagreeing, it is the majority which
takes the decision as to the date on which the
report on a proposal shall be submitted. How-
ever, the committee should make a report on
motions submitted by one or more Members
of the Danish Parliament when the proposers
so request in writing giving at least 14 days’
notice and provided that the request is sup-
ported by a minority representing at least two
fifths of the Members of the committee.
(3) However, when the committee has sub-

mitted a report for the second reading of a
Bill, an oral recommendation may be made at
the third reading of a Bill if the committee has

concluded its work without any amendments
being moved and without any of the Members
of the committee requesting a supplementary
report. If the committee decides in favour of
an oral recommendation, the Speaker of the
Danish Parliament shall be notified of it via
the Legal Services Office. It is the Committee
Chairman who makes the oral recommenda-
tion, unless a different spokesman is elected.
(4) When a Bill has been referred to a com-

mittee after the third reading has begun (cf.
section 9 and section 13(4)), the committee
submits a report (or a supplement to it or an
addition to the supplementary report); or it
makes an oral recommendation under the
same rules as those referred to in subsections
2 and 3 of this section.
(5) Recommendations from the standing

Electoral Scrutineers’ Committee may like
those from the temporary committee referred
to in section 1(2) be made orally and without
the observance of any time limit, provided that
they are unanimous and recommend approval
of the elections. A unanimous recommenda-
tion on the approval of a substitute, cf. sec-
tions 40 and 41(1), is submitted to the Speaker
of the Danish Parliament, who subsequently

informs the Danish Parliament to this effect.
Other unanimous recommendations concern-
ing approval of elections are undertaken by
the Committee Chairman, unless another
spokesman is elected. In other circumstances,
the committee shall submit a report including
a recommendation.
(6) A committee can make a statement on

the progress of its work concerning proposals
regarding which it does not submit a report.
Besides, a committee can, in quite exceptional
circumstances, submit a report on its activi-
ties at large. Committee reports are published
on one of the Danish Parliament websites.
§9
(1) A matter may at any stage during its reading
be subjected to the scrutiny of a committee. If
the matter has already been submitted to the
Danish Parliament, the reading of it shall be
suspended while it is being considered by the
committee.
(2) The Speaker can submit motions concern-

ing referral of motions to be dealt with by a
committee to a special debate at which the
time limits governing short remarks shall apply.
CHAPTER IV
Bills
§ 10
(1) Bills shall be drafted in statutory form and
have a title that briefly defines the contents of
the Bill and lists it in numerical order. Bills aim-
ing at amending or repealing an Act of an earlier
date shall be entitled Bill on amendment to – or
repeal of – the earlier Act in question, as the
case may be, possibly defined more specifi-
cally by a subtitle. Bills which are not in accord-
ance with the above-mentioned rules shall be
rejected by the Speaker. When a Bill is to be
submitted to the Danish Parliament, the Min-
ister in question or the Member(s) submitting
the Bill must inform the Speaker about it, and
the latter notifies the Danish Parliament of it by
reading out the names of the mover(s) – using
abbreviated designations of the political parties
in cases in which there are several Members
of the same party – and also by referring to the
publication on one of the Danish Parliament
websites. The Bill shall subsequently be submit-
ted in writing unless the proposer has asked for
an oral presentation. In the latter case, the Bill
may be submitted during the same meeting or
during a subsequent meeting.
(2) The Government may, in non-session

periods, introduce the Finance Bills in writing
without convening the Danish Parliament for a
sitting as the notification of the Bill is published
If so, the Speaker may refer the Bill to the
Finance Committee. The same applies to the
Bills on determining budget ceilings which
shall apply to the state, municipalities and re-
gions – mentioned in the Budget Act – as well
as to eventual Bills on amendments to Acts of
an earlier date on determining budget ceilings
which shall apply to the state, municipalities
and regions, which the Government wishes to
introduce at the same time.
(3) In view of the planning of the legisla-

tive work, the majority of the Bills which the
Government intends to introduce during the
sessional year should be introduced at the
beginning of the sessional year in question. As
a rule, Bills should be introduced no later than
by April 1st in order to be passed within the
current sessional year.
(4) No Bill shall be passed finally until it has

been read three times in the Chamber of the
Danish Parliament (section 41 of the Constitu-
tional Act).
§ 11
(1) The first reading of a Bill shall take place
not earlier than 2 days after the Bill has been
websites, and preferably not earlier than 5
days after it has been published on one of the
Danish Parliament websites. The mover of a
Bill is entitled to request that it be submitted to
the first reading within 5 sitting days count-
ing from the day on which a written request to
this effect was made to the Speaker. However,
the first reading shall take place not earlier
than on the fourteenth sitting day after the
Bill has been published on one of the Dan-
ish Parliament websites. If a Bill is introduced
after April 1st, cf. section 10(3), a vote shall – if
17 Members request it – be taken in order to
decide whether a first reading can take place.
Prior to such a voting, the Speaker can subject
the question to a separate debate at which
the rules on speaking time applying to short
remarks apply. At the first reading, the Bill is
debated in principle without going into too
much detail. Amendments cannot be moved.
(2) When the reading has come to a close,

the Bill is subjected to a second reading, and
the Danish Parliament decides whether the
Bill shall be referred to a reading in one of the

committees.
§ 12
(1) The second reading shall take place not
earlier than 2 days after the first reading has
been concluded (cf. also section 8a(2)). During
the second reading, statements are made on
the Bill in general and on the individual sec-
tions as well as on the amendments moved.
Such amendments may be moved by Commit-
tee Members and other Members and also by
the Minister concerned (cf. also section 18).
(2) When the debate has been concluded, a

vote is taken on the amendments moved, un-
less a vote can be omitted in accordance with
section 35.
(3) Subsequently, a third reading of the Bill

in its present form is begun, and the Danish
Parliament decides whether the Bill shall be
referred to another reading in the committee
which has previously dealt with it or – if the Bill
has not been submitted to a committee read-
ing – to a new committee.
(4) If a Bill has been subjected to a third

reading directly without a decision having
been taken on a new committee reading, the

committee which has been deliberating the
matter between the first and second readings
shall, however, not be precluded from recon-
sidering the matter between the second and
third readings if it deems it necessary. In that
case, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament is
informed about it via the Legal Services Office.
§ 13
(1) The third reading shall take place not earlier
than 30 days after the introduction and 2 days
after the second reading has been concluded
(cf. also section 8a(2) and (3)). And two fifths
of the Members of the Danish Parliament may
request the Speaker to see to it that the third
reading takes place not earlier than 12 week-
days after the Bill has been adopted at the
second reading. The request shall be made in
writing and be signed by the Members mak-
ing it. However, Finance Bills, Supplementary
Appropriation Bills, Provisional Appropriation
Bills, Government Loan Bills, Naturalization
Bills, Expropriation Bills, Indirect Taxation
Bills and, in emergencies, Bills the enactment
of which cannot be postponed because the
intent of the Act cannot be stayed (section 41
in the Constitutional Act).
(2) Amendments can be moved at the third

reading in the same way as at the second
reading.
(3) The amendments moved are debated first.

When the Danish Parliament has reached a
decision on these amendments, the Bill is de-
bated as a whole. In conclusion, a vote is taken
on the final adoption of the Bill.
(4) If the Danish Parliament after having voted

on the amendments moved decides to shelve
the third reading and to submit the matter
to the scrutiny of one of the committees, cf.
section 9, the Committee Members and the
Minister concerned may move new amend-
ments to the Bill. When the third reading is
resumed, such amendments shall be consid-
ered first. When the Danish Parliament has
reached a decision on the amendments, the
Bill is debated in its entirety and finally put to
the vote.
(5) When a Bill has finally been adopted, it shall

be signed by the Speaker and by one of the
Tellers, whereupon the Speaker shall forward
it to the Prime Minister.
§ 14
The time allotted to speakers – laid down in
the Annex to the present Standing Orders –
shall apply to the introduction and reading of
Bills, however, cf. section 28.
§ 15
(1) When the Danish Parliament has adopted a
Bill which in accordance with section 42 in the
Constitutional Act can be subjected to a refer-
endum, one third of the Members of the Dan-
ish Parliament may within 3 weekdays, count-
ing from the final adoption of the Bill, request
the Speaker to submit the Bill to a referendum.
The request shall be made in writing and be
signed by the Members making the request.
(2) Where a request has been made that a

referendum be held on a Bill, the Danish Parlia-
ment may within 5 weekdays, counting from
the final adoption of the Bill, decide that the Bill
shall become void (section 42(3) in the Consti-
tutional Act).
(3) Proposals for resolution to this effect are

read once in accordance with the rules which
apply to the first reading of Bills. However, the
Speaker may waive the time limits which apply
to the matter in question and to speaking if he
deems it necessary in order to expedite the

matter.
(4) If the Danish Parliament does not pass

such a resolution, the Prime Minister and the
Minister for the Interior and Housing shall be
informed as soon as possible that the Bill is to
be subjected to a referendum, cf. section 95 in
the Parliamentary Election Act.
(5) When a Bill concerning the expropriation

of property has been passed, one third of the
Members of the Danish Parliament may within
3 weekdays, counting from the final adoption
of the Bill, request that it be not submitted to
the Royal Assent until general elections have
been held again and the Bill has been passed
once more by the Danish Parliament assem-
bling thereafter (section 73 in the Constitu-
tional Act). The request, which shall be made
in writing and be signed by the Members
making it, is forwarded to the Speaker who
acquaints the Danish Parliament with it and
subsequently forwards it to the Prime Minister.
CHAPTER V
Constitutional Bills
§ 16
(1) Bills comprising amendments or additional
provisions to the Constitutional Act (section
88 in the Constitutional Act) shall have a title
indicating that they are constitutional Bills. If
that is not the case, they shall be rejected by
the Speaker.
(2) Amendments comprising amendments or

additional provisions to the Constitutional Act
can be moved only in connection with consti-
tutional Bills. If moved in connection with other
Bills, they shall be rejected by the Speaker.
(3) Bills or amendments which are in con-

travention of the Constitutional Act shall be re-
jected. If after consulting the Standing Orders
Committee the Speaker finds that such an
inconsistency exists, he recommends to the
Danish Parliament that the Bill be rejected.
Such rejections are not subject to debate.
CHAPTER VI
Other Independent Proposals etc.
§ 17
(1) Independent proposals other than Bills shall
take the form of resolutions and shall be listed
in numerical order. They shall be notified at a
sitting in the same manner as Bills. In cases
in which the reading of such proposals is not
defined by the Standing Orders, the following
rules apply. Unless they take the form of rec-
ommendations from committees, proposals
for parliamentary resolution are moved in the
same way as Bills and are given two readings
according to the same rules which apply to
first and third readings of Bills. The provision
in section 13(1) regarding the fact that the third
reading must not take place until 30 days
after it has been submitted does, however,
not apply to the second reading of propos-
als for parliamentary resolution. Proposals
for parliamentary resolution which take the
form of recommendations from committees
are given two readings according to the rules
which apply to second and third readings of
Bills. However, the provisions in section 12
concerning the referral to committees do not
apply. Two fifths of the Members of the Danish
Parliament are not entitled to request the last

reading of proposals for parliamentary resolu-
tion to be stayed, cf. section 13(1).
(2) Irrespective of subsection 1, clause 3, the

Speaker of the Danish Parliament may, with
the approval of the proposer or proposers,
decide that a proposal for parliamentary reso-
lution which does not stem from a committee
recommendation may be referred directly
to a committee reading. It is up to the Danish
Parliament to decide to which committee the
proposal shall be referred. If the committee
submits a report on the proposal, the proposal
is subsequently submitted to one reading only,
according to the same rules which apply to the
third reading of Bills.
(3) Proposals for parliamentary resolution

which do not stem from committee recom-
mendations should normally be introduced
by March 1st, at the latest, in order to be read
within the current parliamentary year. If such
a proposal has been submitted after the said
date, it shall, if 17 Members so request, be sub-
mitted to a vote as to whether the first read-
ing may take place or, if the proposal is read
in accordance with section 2, as to whether
the proposal may be referred to a committee
reading. Prior to such a vote, the Speaker may

submit the question to a separate reading ob-
serving the rules on speaking time which apply
to short remarks.
(4) Recommendations made by committees

concerning petitions, including petitions for
consent in accordance with section 57 of the
Constitutional Act (cf. section 25), are read
once and the time limits are the same as for
second readings of Bills. The same applies to
recommendations which take the form of a re-
port from the Electoral Scrutineers’ Commit-
tee (cf. section 8a(5)). The Ombudsman of the
Danish Parliament is appointed during a meet-
ing without a debate. This meeting shall take
place not earlier than 2 days after the recom-
mendation on the appointment made by the
Legal Affairs Committee has been published
CHAPTER VII
Amendments and Amendments to

Amendments
§ 18
(1) Amendments to Bills and to proposals for
parliamentary resolution shall, whether they
are moved in a committee report or outside it,
in so far as it may prove necessary, be accom-
panied by comments stating the reasons for
the amendments.
(2) Such amendments shall not be read unless

they have been published on one of the Danish
Parliament websites the previous day, at the
latest. As for the reading of an amendment to
an amendment, the only requirement is that it
shall have been published on one of the Danish
Parliament websites before the opening of the
meeting in question. However, amendments
and amendments to amendments to the
Finance Bill or to the Supplementary Appro-
priation Bill moved by the Government cannot
be read without the consent of the Danish
Parliament, unless they have been published
on one of the Danish Parliament websites no
later than 4 days previously.
(3) Subject to the consent of the Danish

Parliament, amendments and amendments to
amendments which are published on one of
the Danish Parliament websites during a sit-
ting may also be read.
CHAPTER VIII
Ministerial Statements, Accounts,

Questions and Interpellations
§ 19
(1) When the Prime Minister has, at the first
sitting of the sessional year, rendered the ac-
count of the general state of the realm and of
the measures proposed by the Government in
accordance with section 38 of the Constitu-
tional Act, the account is made the subject of
a general debate in the Danish Parliament (the
opening debate). A resolution in connection
with the debate can only be made in accor-
dance with the rules laid down in section 24.
(2) The rules laid down in subsection 1 likewise

apply if the Prime Minister, at any other time
not related to the opening of the sessional
year, wishes to render an account to the
Danish Parliament of the general state of the
realm and of the measures proposed by the
Government.
(3) If the Prime Minister wishes to make a

special statement to the Danish Parliament
outside the order paper, the Speaker shall
be informed. The latter will then call upon the
Prime Minister to speak either at once or at a

later stage.
(4) If a Minister wishes to give an account of a

matter of public interest to the Danish Parlia-
ment, outside the order paper, the Speaker
shall be informed so that he can notify the
Danish Parliament by reading out who sub-
mits the account, by indicating the numerical
number in question and lastly by referring to
the publishing on one of the Danish Parlia-
ment websites. Subsequently, the account is
submitted in writing unless the Minister has
asked for a verbal account. In the latter case,
the account may be rendered either during the
same sitting or during a later sitting.
(5) Not later than on the first sitting day after

an account, like the one referred to in subsec-
tion 4 of this section, has been either given
or published on one of the Danish Parliament
websites, the Speaker may decide to submit it
to a debate in the Danish Parliament. Further-
more, 17 Members may, within the same time
limit, demand that it be debated in the Dan-
ish Parliament. Unless the Danish Parliament
decides otherwise, the debate shall be held
not later than 10 sitting days after the Speaker
has communicated his decision to the Danish
Parliament or has been notified of the request.

The rules on time limits laid down in the Annex
to the present Standing Orders also apply to
the submitting and debating of accounts, how-
ever, cf. section 28. No decision can be taken in
connection with the reading, unless the account
– according to the decision of the Speaker –
is read together with an interpellation on the
same subject. In that case, a proposal – aimed
at adopting the account and the interpellation
jointly – is moved, and a decision is taken in ac-
cordance with the rules of section 24.
(6) If a committee as part of its reading of a

case wishes the Danish Parliament to debate
the matter in the Chamber, the Speaker and the
Minister concerned are informed to this effect.
The debate takes place on the basis of an ac-
count which the Government has made of the
case. This account may be submitted in writing,
cf. however section 7, 3 clause, and in that case,
the debate can take place not earlier than 2 days
after the account has been published on one of
the Danish Parliament websites. The account
may also be made orally. If so, the Minister may
take 15 minutes to do so, and the account is
subsequently debated. The committee in ques-
tion may also make a report to be included in the
debate. Such a report shall, if the case should
arise, have been published on one of the Danish

Parliament websites 2 days prior to the debate.
(7) During the debate which takes place in

accordance with subsection 6, the time limits
which apply to first readings of Bills shall apply.
However, if the European Affairs Committee
requests a debate, the time limits are laid down
by the Speaker on the recommendation of the
Committee. The Speaker may decide that the
debate shall take as its point of departure an oral
account rendered by the Minister in question.
(8) The Danish Parliament cannot take a deci-

sion in connection with the debate in accord-
ance with subsection 6.
(9) The rules comprised by subsections

6–8 also apply if the Members of the Danish
delegation to an interparliamentary assembly
wish to debate a matter.
§ 20
(1) If a Member wishes to obtain informa-
tion about a Minister’s attitude to or view of
a public matter in the light of the information
available to the Minister, he/she may do so by
putting a question to the Minister concerned in
accordance with the rules of this section.
(2) The question is tabled in writing. It shall be

brief and concise, and a brief written justifica-
tion may be annexed. The question shall, via
the Legal Services Office, be forwarded to the
Speaker, who forwards a copy of the question
– possibly together with a written justification
– to the Minister. The questioner may demand
a written or an oral reply. Questions for the
written reply shall be made in a way so as to
keep the answer reasonably short. During
Question Time, a Member may put two ques-
tions for oral reply.
(3) If a question or the justification for putting

it is not drawn up in accordance with subsec-
tions 1 and 2, or if the Speaker finds that the
very question or the form or contents of the
justification is of a character that makes it un-
suitable for tabling, the Speaker may decline
to forward it to the Minister.
(4) If the Minister, in a previous justified notifi-

cation in writing or during Question Time, de-
clares that he/she is not in a position to answer
the question, the matter is considered closed.
If the Minister answers the question, he/she
does so in accordance with the provisions laid
down in subsections 6–8.
(5) If the questioner has asked for an oral reply,

the question may be entered on the list of
questions for the next Question Time, provided
that it has been received by the Legal Services
Office not later than at 12.00 p.m. 3 weekdays in
advance (Saturday not included). The Speaker
decides the order of questions and he may
leave out questions which are regarded as
being comprised by an urgent interpellation.
Unless the Speaker decides otherwise, the time
spent on putting questions to a Minister must
not exceed 1 hour.
(6) Before the minister answers the question

during Question Time, the questioner puts the
question again orally.
(7) The time allotted to the Minister to answer

the question is 2 minutes the first time. The
questioner may be given the floor for up to
2 minutes. The Minister gives his reply (half
a minute), and subsequently, the questioner
may be given the floor up to two times for half
a minute. Then follows the Minister’s reply for
half a minute up to two times. In the event that
the Member posing the original question has
stated that he has no objections, the Speaker
may permit a co-questioner to participate
in the question, however, this must be made
clear not later than at 10.00 a.m. on the day of

Question Time. The Speaker may also allow
more co-questioners to put supplementary
questions to a vital question on a topical issue.
A co-questioner may be given the floor for 1
minute once and for half a minute once im-
mediately before the questioner is given the
floor for the last time, and the Ministers are
entitled to the same speaking time as the co-
questioner to answer.
(8) If the answer is given in writing – and this

should be done within 6 weekdays (Saturday
not included) – the reply is forwarded to the
questioner.
(9) Questions to which a reply is requested in

writing within the same sessional year shall be
received by the Legal Services Office not later
than September 15th, or should this be a holi-
day the previous weekday. When writs for an
election have been issued or after a Cabinet
has tendered its resignation, cf. section 15(2)
of the Constitutional Act, questions cannot be
handed in.
(10) The Speaker has made the decision to

enter a Question Hour on Parliament’s order
paper. During this Hour, the Members may put
questions to the Prime Minister for immediate

reply. The Speaker may decide that the possi-
bility of putting questions to the Prime Minister
during a Question Hour shall be restricted to
certain parliamentary groups or to Members
who do not belong to a parliamentary group.
The Speaker may also decide that the possi-
bility of putting questions to the Prime Minister
during a Question Hour shall be restricted
to Members who are Party Chairmen or a
Member who acts as a substitute to a Party
Chairman if he/she has been lawfully pre-
vented from being present. The Prime Minister
informs Parliament, not later than at 10.00
a.m. on the day preceding Question Hour, as to
whether the Prime Minister will open Question
Hour by giving Parliament a briefing for up to 5
minutes on measures which the Government
is considering to implement or on any other
measures. If Question Hour is opened by the
Prime Minister’s briefing, the Speaker shall
immediately after the briefing give Members
who wish to put questions an opportunity to
indicate that they so wish. In special cases, the
Speaker may include questions from Mem-
bers who have not indicated at the opening of
Question Hour that they wish to put questions.
If Question Hour is not opened by a briefing,
Members who wish to ask questions inform
the Speaker to this effect not later than at

the opening of Question Hour. The Speaker
decides which of the Members may put ques-
tions and in what order.
(11) A question put during the Prime Minister’s

Question Hour shall together with an even-
tual argumentation not exceed 2 minutes.
The Prime Minister’s reply shall not exceed
2 minutes either. After receiving a reply, the
questioner may have the floor no more than
twice for 1 minute each time. Following the first
reply, the Prime Minister’s speaking time is
subsequently restricted to 1 minute each time.
The Prime Minister is free to refuse to reply
to the question. In special cases, the Speaker,
with a view to adapting Question Hour within
the set time limit or at large, may deviate from
the time limits mentioned in this subsection
and similarly from the number of times which a
Member may be given the floor.
§ 21
(1) If a Member wishes to submit a public
matter for debate and to request a statement
from one or several Ministers, in accordance
with section 53 of the Constitutional Act, he/
she shall table an interpellation, drawn up in
writing in a concise form, and forward it to
the Speaker, who notifies the Members of the

interpellation during the same or the following
meeting. The Speaker notifies the Members
by reading out the name(s) of the mover(s)
using abbreviated designations of the politi-
cal parties in cases in which there are several
Members of the same party as well as reading
out the numerical order of the interpellation,
and he also mentions the fact that the interpel-
lation has been published on one of the Danish
Parliament websites.
(2) At a subsequent meeting, the Danish

Parliament decides whether the interpella-
tion shall be put forward or not. If consent is
given – and this is decided without a debate –
the Speaker will communicate the wording of
the interpellation to the Minister or Ministers
concerned, and it will be published on one of
the Danish Parliament websites. The inter-
pellation is introduced and debated during a
subsequent sitting, however, not later than 10
sitting days after the Danish Parliament has
decided to proceed with it. If the Minister to
whom the interpellation is addressed finds
it contrary to the interests of the country to
hold a public debate on the matter in question
within the time limits mentioned, the Minister
informs the interpellator to this effect. Thus,
the interpellation is postponed. Subject to the

consent of the interpellator, postponement
may also occur in other cases.
(3) When justifying, answering and debating

the interpellation, the time allotted to speakers
laid down in the Annex to the present Standing
Orders applies, cf. also section 28. Following
the Minister’s answer, Members who will be
spokespersons during the following debate
may – to the extent which the Speaker deems
reasonable – be given the floor in order to
make one short remark. Section 28, 2nd and
3rd clause, apply in the same way.
(4) When there is a need for an especially

urgent debate on a topical subject, an urgent
interpellation may be recurred to. The Speaker
will at the request of the parliamentary groups
and in agreement with the Minister see to it
that such an interpellation is read at the earli-
est possible date. The Speaker may deviate
from the rules on notification, despatch and
reading of such interpellations as indicated in
subsections 1 and 2.
(5) Resolutions in connection with the debate

may be passed only in accordance with the
provisions laid down in section 24.
CHAPTER IX
Withdrawal, Rejection, Proposal to be

passed
§ 22
(1) Government Bills as well as Bills submitted
by the Members of the Danish Parliament may
at any stage of their reading be withdrawn.
Immediately after the Danish Parliament
has been informed about the withdrawal, the
Speaker will ask whether any other party (a
Member or a Minister) would wish to submit
the Bill.
(2) An interpellation can be withdrawn up

to the moment when the Danish Parlia-
ment opens the reading of the item on the
order paper under which the interpellation is
introduced and debated, cf. section 21(2, 3rd
clause).
(3) A question for oral reply, cf. section 20, can

be withdrawn up to the moment when the Dan-
ish Parliament opens the reading of the said
question during Question Time. A question for
writtten reply can be withdrawn up to the mo-
ment when the Legal Services Office receives
the reply from the Minister concerned.
(4) Interpellations and questions which have

been withdrawn cannot be introduced again
by other parties.
§ 23
(1) Bills and amendments may be rejected
at the request of a Member. Such a request
shall be made before the debate on the Bill is
opened. The Danish Parliament then decides,
without a debate, whether to reject the Bill or
not.
(2) The provisions laid down in subsection 1

also apply in cases in which the Speaker as
moderator recommends to the Danish Parlia-
ment to reject a Bill or an amendment.
§ 24
(1) During the debate on an interpellation (sec-
tion 21) and during the debate on an account
rendered by the Prime Minister of the general
state of the realm and of the measures pro-
posed by the Government (section 19, 1 and 2),
a proposal to be passed may be introduced.
Such a proposal shall be composed of no
more than 150 words and an urgent interpella-
tion of no more than 50 words, cf. section 21(4),
and shall be naturally linked to the debate
going on. The Speaker submits proposals to
be passed for debate if the above conditions

are fulfilled.
(2) Amendments cannot be moved to propos-

als which are to be passed. If such a proposal
is passed, the other proposals to be passed
– on which a vote has not yet been taken –
become void.
(3) If a proposal to be passed is moved dur-

ing the debate on a matter, Members who at
that time have spent all their time allotted to
speaking are entitled to an extra 5 minutes.
This is also the case if new proposals to be
passed are moved later during the same
debate.
CHAPTER X
Petitions
§ 25
Petitions may be submitted to the Danish
Parliament only through one of its Members
(section 54 of the Constitutional Act). Petitions
include applications, addresses, complaints
and similar enquiries from persons who are
not Members of the Danish Parliament. All
petitions are forwarded to the committee
before which the petitioner desires them to
be brought. If the petitioner has made no such
request, it is the Speaker who decides whether
to refer a matter to a standing or an ad hoc
committee or whether to put it at the disposal
of the Members for perusal in the Reading
Room of the Danish Parliament. However, peti-
tions for the consent of the Danish Parliament,
in accordance with section 57 of the Consti-
tutional Act, shall always be referred to the
Standing Orders Committee (cf. section 17(4)).
Petitions regarding elections shall be referred
to the Electoral Scrutineers’ Committee (how-
ever, cf. section 1(3)), and petitions regarding
the Ombudsman shall be referred to the Legal
Affairs Committee.
CHAPTER XI
Debate/Order Paper
§ 26
Members and Ministers speak from the ros-
trum of the Danish Parliament or if the Speak-
er so decides from their seats in the Chamber.
No person shall be addressed directly during
the debates. Members (apart from Ministers)
shall be styled Mr or Mrs adding their names
but without any titles. Ministers are addressed
by their official titles as Ministers.
§ 27
Quotations are accepted to a limited extent
only. An intervention shall indicate clearly
when a quotation begins and when it ends.
Likewise, the source of the quotation and its
exact place in the original text shall be indi-
cated clearly.
§ 28
(1) The Speaker calls upon the Members to
speak in the order in which their requests are
noted, however, giving precedence to spokes-
men and proposers. Likewise, the Speaker
may change the order of speakers with a view
to expediting matters, or in cases in which

practical reasons speak in favour of so doing.
(2) The Speaker may allow deviations from the

time limits on speaking laid down in the Stand-
ing Orders, including the Annex, when the
extent of a matter renders it necessary. Appli-
cations for extended time to speak should be
tabled not later than 2 days before the sitting
in question. A request to have the time allotted
to speakers extended when debating inter-
pellations shall, however, be made at the time
when the interpellation is handed in.
(3) Irrespective of the set speaking times, the

Speaker may, to the extent which he deems
reasonable, give Members the floor in order
for them to make two short remarks, the first
one of 1 minute’s duration and the second one
of half a minute’s duration. Under special cir-
cumstances, the Speaker may give a Member
the floor for several or more protracted short
remarks. If a Minister desires to take the floor
in order to make a short remark, the Minister
may speak for up to 3 minutes.
(4) During the debates, Ministers are entitled

to address the Danish Parliament as often
as they wish, provided of course that they
observe the rules of the Standing Orders of

the Danish Parliament (section 40 of the Con-
stitutional Act).
§ 29
(1) If a Member exceeds his/her time limit, the
Speaker may order the Member in question to
leave the floor after having once called his/her
attention to the fact that the time has expired.
In that case, the Member concerned cannot
be called upon to speak again on the same
matter.
(2) If the Speaker considers the statements of

a Member improper, the Speaker may call the
Member to order. If the Member does not obey
the directions of the Speaker, the latter may
ask the Member to discontinue his speech.
The Speaker may also decline to call upon the
Member to speak once more during the same
sitting. Furthermore, the Standing Orders
Committee may decide to exclude a Member
who has been called to order from the sittings
of the Danish Parliament for up to 14 sitting
days. For the duration of the exclusion, the
Member in question is not allowed to take part
in committee meetings either.
(3) The provisions referred to in subsection 2

of this section also apply if the Speaker finds a
Member’s written statements in Bills, reports
etc. improper or if a Member otherwise ren-
ders himself/herself guilty of grossly offending
the observance of the rules for preserving
order.
(4) If a Member does not obey the Speaker’s

directions after the latter has requested the
Member concerned to discontinue his/her
speech or if general disorder should occur, the
Speaker shall adjourn or, if necessary, close
the sitting.
§ 30
Expressions of approval or disapproval are
considered disorderly.
§ 31
(1) If the Speaker finds that the debates are
unduly lengthy, he may suggest that they be
ended. The Danish Parliament will then take
the decision about a possible closure without
a debate after having read out the names
of those who wished to speak. Likewise, 17
Members may request in writing that a vote be
taken on a possible closure without a debate.
The names of these Members as well as of
those wishing to address the Danish Parlia-

ment are then read out.
§ 32
(1) The Speaker or the acting Speaker sees
to it that the Members receive a request to
attend the first meeting of each session. The
notice is forwarded directly to the Members by
e-mail or by letter and is also published on one
of the Danish Parliament websites.
(2) At the end of each sitting, the Speaker

announces the time and date as well as the
order paper for the next sitting, if possible at
that time. Notification of the contents of the
order paper may be given by referring to one
of the Danish Parliament websites or to the
latest order paper. A request to the Members
to attend a meeting may also be forwarded
by e-mail or in a printed version. However, the
fact that the Speaker has fixed the day and
time and the order paper for the next meeting
shall not prevent him from calling the meeting
at another hour.
(3) The Speaker can, when the order paper

has not been drawn up in accordance with
subsection 4 of this section, change the order
of the items listed, and the Speaker can omit
an item on the order paper if the Danish

Parliament is informed about the reasons for
so doing. But apart from electing Members to
committees, commissions and to assuming
other tasks, only matters entered on the order
paper for a sitting can be dealt with during the
sitting in question.
(4) It rests with the Speaker to call a meeting

when at least two fifths of the Members of the
Danish Parliament or the Prime Minister re-
quests him to do so in writing stating the order
of the day (section 39 in the Constitutional
Act).
(5) Whenever possible, next week’s pro-

gramme indicating the Speaker’s plans so far
for the work of the coming days is published
on one of the Danish Parliament websites on
the last sitting day of the week in question.
CHAPTER XII
Votings
§ 33
(1) For a resolution to be passed by the Dan-
ish Parliament, more than half of the Mem-
bers shall be present and take part in the
voting (section 50 in the Constitutional Act).
Members who abstain from voting shall be
regarded as participating in the vote allow-
ing for the fact, however, that these votes are
not included in the calculations of votes in
accordance with section 36(2) or section 42.
A resolution is considered passed when the
votes cast in favour of a motion exceed those
cast against it, however, excepting the cases
mentioned in section 42.
(2) A resolution cannot be altered during the

reading at which it was passed, cf., however,
section 13(4).
§ 34
(1) The Speaker decides the contents, order
and interdependence of the votes or, if 17
Members so request, the Danish Parliament
takes the decision, one of the 17 Members and
the Speaker each having spoken once.
§ 35
(1) In all cases in which the Speaker has reason
to consider the outcome of a vote as given in
advance, he is authorized to declare that a
question put to the vote – however, excepting
the final passing of a Bill or another independ-
ent proposal – is decided without a vote,
unless 17 Members request that such a vote
be taken. Incidentally, votes are taken either
by means of a voting machine, by counting the
Members who have risen from their seats, or
by roll call.
(2) Usually, votes are taken by means of a vot-

ing machine which indicates who voted for the
Bill, who voted against it and who abstained
from voting as well as who was absent. The re-
sult of the voting is kept in the Archives of the
Danish Parliament. If the Speaker so decides,
it will be recorded in the minutes of the de-
bates in the Chamber how each Member has
voted. This also applies if 17 Members have
requested it in writing before the vote is taken,
unless the Danish Parliament by an ordinary
vote taken at the suggestion of the Speaker
decides otherwise.
(3) If the voting machine cannot be used, a

vote is taken by the Speaker’s calling upon the
Members to rise from their seats in order to in-
dicate that they vote for or against the Bill or to
indicate that they vote neither for nor against.
(4) Votes shall be taken by roll call if 17 Mem-

bers so request before the voting begins,
unless the Danish Parliament by an ordinary
vote taken at the suggestion of the Speaker
decides otherwise. Besides, the Speaker may
decide to take a vote by roll call at once, or
he may do so if the outcome of a vote taken
otherwise seems questionable to him. When
votes are taken by roll call, the names of the
Members are called out in alphabetical order.
When the names of all Members have been
called out and – when at the Speaker’s im-
mediate invitation to vote – no more Members
register for the voting, the Speaker announces
the close of the roll call and the votes cast are
counted.
CHAPTER XIII
Appointments
§ 36
(1) In cases in which the Danish Parliament
appoints Members to sit on committees
and commissions or gives Members assign-
ments, it is done according to the system of
proportional representation (section 52 in the
Constitutional Act).
The following principles apply: The Members
are divided into coalitions, each of which
comprises those of the parliamentary groups
and of the Members who have indicated to
the Speaker that they will vote together in one
or several cases which they have mentioned,
either for a certain time or for the time be-
ing. Subsequently, the number of Members
of each coalition is entered on a separate
list, and the number listed is divided by 1, 2, 3
etc. until the number of votes on each list has
been divided by a figure which represents the
maximum number of seats which the group is
supposed to obtain. The highest of the quo-
tients thus acquired gives the group that holds
it the right to make the first appointment. The
second highest gives the right to make the
second appointment etc. until the full number
of appointments has been reached. If the

quotients are equal, lots are drawn to decide
the order of appointments. Each coalition
informs the Speaker via the Legal Services Of-
fice which parliamentary groups and Members
make up the coalition and whom the coalition
has appointed to sit on the committees in
question. On behalf of the Speaker, the Legal
Services Office checks that the coalition has
nominated the number to which it is entitled
according to the system of proportional rep-
resentation. Subsequently, the Speaker reads
out the names of the persons who have been
elected and sees to it that their names are
entered in the minutes of the debates in the
Chamber without having been read out.
(2) When only one Member is to be appointed,

the Danish Parliament takes a vote on the ap-
pointment. This vote may, however, be omit-
ted if one Member only has been nominated
and there are no objections. Votes are taken
– possibly in writing, if the Danish Parliament,
so decides – according to the following rules,
however, cf. section 33. If one of the Members
nominated gets more than half the votes cast,
cf. section 33(1, 2nd clause), the person in
question is regarded as having been elected.
If not, another vote is taken. If this does not
lead to the said majority either, a third vote is

taken. The third vote shall be confined to the
two persons who obtained the largest number
of votes during the second voting, and lots are
to be drawn if there is a tie. If the third vote
should also result in a tie, lots are likewise to
be drawn.
(3) If a vacancy should occur on a committee

or on a board before the expiry of the ordinary
term of office, this vacancy is filled by the par-
liamentary group which appointed the former
holder of the office. If the Member in question
– upon the expiry of the office – is no longer
a Member of the parliamentary group which
appointed him/her, but is affiliated to a new
group, the vacancy is filled by the latter. The
appointment is made on the recommendation
of the parliamentary group in question.
(4) If a vacancy cannot be filled in accordance

with subsection 3, the appointment is made by
the coalition which may claim to do so accord-
ing to the system of proportional representa-
tion.
CHAPTER XIV
Public sittings, Printing of documents

relating to the parliamentary work
§ 37
The sittings of the Danish Parliament are
public. However, the Speaker, 17 Members or
a Minister may request that all unauthorized
persons be ordered to leave, whereupon it is
decided, without a debate, whether to discuss
the matter at a public or at a closed sitting
(cf. section 49 in the Constitutional Act). The
Speaker sees to it that admission is granted to
the public sittings.
§ 38
If strangers admitted to the public galleries do
not keep silent, the Speaker may demand that
those causing the disturbances, or, if neces-
sary, all the visitors admitted to the public
galleries, be ordered to leave.
§ 39
(1) Minutes of the debates in the Chamber are
websites.
(2) The Speaker can decide to forward a par-

liamentary document relating to the work in
the Chamber either as an e-mail or in a printed
version instead of publishing it on one of the
Danish Parliament websites. This method
means that the rules on time limits which apply
to the publication of documents are regarded
as having been observed.
CHAPTER XV
Leave of Absence
§ 40
When a Member ceases to be a Member of
the Danish Parliament, the said Member’s
substitute takes his/her seat in the Danish
Parliament, cf. section 92 of the Parliamentary
Election Act (section 74 of the Election Act of
the Faroe Islands and section 68 of the Act on
General Elections in Greenland).
§ 41
(1) At the request of a Member, the Danish Par-
liament may grant him/her leave of absence
and call upon the Member’s substitute to
take the vacant seat in the Danish Parliament
temporarily.
(2) On the oral recommendation of the

Speaker, the Danish Parliament passes a reso-
lution to this effect, without a previous debate.
(3) Leave of absence may be granted when a

Member informs the Speaker that
a) owing to illness, caring for seriously ill

children or close relatives who wish
to die in their own homes, temporary

absence on public business abroad or
similar business in the Faroe Islands or
in Greenland, he/she will not be able to
attend the sittings of the Danish Parlia-
ment for a period of at least 7 days,
b) being also a Member of the Lagting of
the Faroe Islands or the Landsting of
Greenland, he/she will neither be able to
attend the sittings of the Danish Parlia-
ment for a period of at least 7 days,
owing to participation in the sittings of
the Lagting or the Landsting respec-
tively, nor in the committee meetings
involved,
c) for other reasons than those mentio-
ned under a) and b), he/she will not be
able to attend the sittings of the Danish
Parliament for at least 7 days,
d) being also a Minister, he/she will not
be able to attend the sittings of the
Danish Parliament for a period of at
least 7 days owing to temporary leave of
absence on public business abroad or
similar business in the Faroe Islands or
in Greenland or
e) being also a Minister, he/she wishes, for
reasons other than those mentioned
above, to appear in Parliament only
in this capacity for as long as he/she

retains the office of Minister.
(4) Furthermore, leave of absence may be

granted for a period of up to 12 months when
a Member informs the Speaker that owing to
pregnancy, childbirth or adoption, he/she will
not be able to attend the sittings of the Danish
Parliament.
(5) An ordinary Member who has been granted

leave of absence in accordance with the provi-
sions of nos. a), b) or d) of subsection 3, or in
accordance with the provisions of subsection
4, retains the right to receive a remuneration
and a pension according to seniority during
the period for which he/she has been granted
leave of absence, cf. the Parliamentary Elec-
tion Act of Denmark.
(6) Leave of absence which has been granted

in accordance with no. d) of subsection 3 is
retained even if the Member in question will
attend sittings in the Danish Parliament in
his/her capacity as Minister during the said
period.
(7) In the cases mentioned in nos. a), b) and c)

of subsection 3, and in subsection 4, the tasks
of a substitute Member come to an end when

the Member concerned informs the Speaker in
writing that he/she will again be able to attend
the sittings of the Danish Parliament (however,
not earlier than on the eighth day counting
from the day on which leave of absence was
granted).
(8) In the cases mentioned in no. d) of subsec-

tion 3, the tasks of the substitute come to an
end when the Minister in question steps down
or informs the Speaker in writing that he/she
will again be able to attend the sittings of the
Danish Parliament regularly (however, not ear-
lier than on the eighth day counting from the
day on which leave of absence was granted). In
the cases mentioned in no. e) of subsection 3,
the substitute’s task ends when the Minister in
question steps down as Minister.
CHAPTER XVI
Deviations from the Standing Orders
§ 42
If it is a matter of urgency, the rules of the
Standing Orders may be disregarded at the
suggestion of the Speaker or if 17 Members
have suggested it in writing, provided that the
rules concerned do not regard constitutional
provisions or other legal provisions and in
cases in which three fourths of the Members
who vote accept the proposal, cf. section 33(1,
2nd clause).
CHAPTER XVII
The Administration of the Danish Parlia-

ment and Institutions belonging under the
Danish Parliament
§ 43
In consultation with the Deputy Speakers, the
Speaker is in charge of the internal organiza-
tion and administration of the Danish Parlia-
ment as well as of its running and accounting.
§ 44
(1) The Presidium of the Danish Parliament can
lay down rules on access to the written mate-
rial of the Danish Parliament, the Administra-
tion of the Danish Parliament and the com-
mittees of the Danish Parliament as well as on
access to the EDP filing systems of the Danish
Parliament.
(2) The Presidium of the Danish Parliament

can lay down rules on the Archives of the
Danish Parliament, rules on handing over
documents to the Archives from the Danish
Parliament, the Administration of the Dan-
ish Parliament, the institutions belonging
under the Danish Parliament, the standing
committees of the Danish Parliament, other
committees set up in accordance with the

Standing Orders Committee of the Danish
Parliament, and committees, boards and the
like which are attached to the Danish Parlia-
ment and which are wholly or partly serviced
by the Danish Parliament as far as secretari-
ats are concerned, as well as rules on access
to the documents which have been handed
over etc. Rules on the institutions belonging
under the Danish Parliament and on the com-
mittees, boards etc. mentioned under clause
1, which are attached to the Danish Parlia-
ment, are laid down after having been submit-
ted to the institution or committee in question.
As far as the Archives of the Office of the Au-
ditor General are concerned, the rules which
apply to dealing with the archives of the public
administration apply, cf. section 18c of the Act
on the Audit of the State Accounts etc. (the
Auditor General’s Act).
(3) Having consulted the Auditors of Public

Accounts, the Standing Orders Committee
lays down general provisions relating to the
Auditor General with regard to such matters
which concerning the public administration
are regulated by the Danish Public Adminis-
tration Act and the Danish Access to Public
Administration Files Act, cf. section 18b in the
Act on the Audit of the State Accounts etc.

(the Auditor General’s Act).
§ 45
(1) Civil servants and other employees in the
Administration of the Danish Parliament are
appointed and dismissed by the Speaker or
by persons authorized by the Speaker to do
so. Unrequested dismissal of civil servants is
undertaken by the Speaker. Appointment and
dismissal of staff being a member of the Gen-
eral Management of the Danish Parliament is
also undertaken by the Speaker after discuss-
ing the matter with the Deputy Speakers and
upon the approval of the Standing Orders
Committee.
(2) The Auditors of Public Accounts appoint

and dismiss their Head of Secretariat and
other staff working in the Office of the Audi-
tors of Public Accounts in accordance with the
rules applying to staff laid down in section 51.
(3) The Auditor General appoints and dis-

misses his staff in accordance with the rules
applying to staff laid down in section 51. Ap-
pointment and dismissal of civil servants in
income bracket 36 or a higher income bracket
as well as unsolicited dismissal of any civil
servant requires the approval of the Standing

Orders Committee, the matter having previ-
ously been put before the Auditors of Public
Accounts, cf. subsection 7 of section 1 in the
Act on the Audit of the State Accounts etc.
(the Auditor General’s Act).
(4) The Ombudsman appoints and dismisses

his staff in accordance with the rules applying
to staff laid down in section 51.
§ 46
(1) The Civil Service Act excepting sections 1
and 3, subsections 3–5 of section 5, sections
45–47 and 49–54 h, and the Act on Appoint-
ment on a Limited Tenure of Civil Servants
and Staff Employed on a Civil Servant’s Basis
also apply to civil servants working in the
Danish Parliament, in the Office of the Audi-
tors of Public Accounts and in the Office of
the Ombudsman unless the Standing Orders
Committee decides otherwise.
(2) A general agreement which applies to civil

servants of the Danish Parliament and civil
servants working in the Office of the Ombuds-
man may – on the authorization of the Speaker
– be entered into by the Secretary Gen-
eral and the Ombudsman. If such a general
agreement is not entered into, provisions on

remuneration and other conditions of employ-
ment are laid down in a set of salary rules, is-
sued by the Speaker of the Danish Parliament
after discussing the matter with the staff or-
ganizations concerned and upon the approval
of the Standing Orders Committee.
(3) If the Secretary General and the Ombuds-

man enter into a general agreement in ac-
cordance with subsection 2, the provisions on
ment which apply to state civil servants, laid
down in sections 45–47 of the Civil Service
Act, also apply to civil servants of the Danish
Parliament and civil servants working in the
Office of the Ombudsman unless other meas-
ures are taken in accordance with subsection
4.
(4) Agreements on remuneration and other

conditions of employment which apply to civil
servants of the Danish Parliament and civil
servants working in the Office of the Ombuds-
man are entered into by the Secretary General
and the Ombudsman on the one hand and the
central organizations with which the Secretary
General and the Ombudsman have entered
into a general agreement on the other hand. If
an agreement cannot be reached, the decision

is taken by the Speaker, who has previously
consulted the Deputy Speakers.
(5) However, in accordance with subsection 4,

agreements cannot be entered into regarding
conditions laid down by statute or in accord-
ance with the Standing Orders of the Danish
Parliament or regarding tasks, organization or
staff requirements in the Danish Parliament or
in the Office of the Ombudsman.
(6) The provisions laid down in the legislation

referred to in subsection 1 likewise apply to
civil servants in the Danish Parliament or in the
Office of the Ombudsman, unless other meas-
ures are taken by the Speaker after consulting
the Deputy Speakers.
(7) Decisions – which in accordance with the

legislation referred to in subsection 1 are made
by a Minister – are, where civil servants of the
Folketing and civil servants working in the Of-
fice of the Ombudsman are concerned, made
by the Secretary General and the Ombuds-
man respectively.
§ 47
(1) A general agreement which applies to pub-
lic staff who are not civil servants may upon
the authorization of the Speaker be entered
into by the Secretary General and the Om-
budsman. If a general agreement is not made,
ment are laid down in a set of rules on salary
issued by the Speaker after negotiating with
the staff organizations concerned and upon
the approval of the Standing Orders Commit-
tee.
(2) If the Secretary General and the Ombuds-

man enter into a general agreement in accord-
ance with subsection 1, the agreements and
provisions on salaries and other conditions of
employment which apply to public staff who
are not civil servants shall be applied to those
staff employed by the offices of the Danish
Parliament and the Ombudsman who are not
civil servants unless otherwise provided in
accordance with subsection 3.

conditions of employment regarding those
staff who are not civil servants employed
by the offices of the Danish Parliament and
the Ombudsman are entered into by the
Secretary General and the Ombudsman on

the one hand and the central organizations
with which the Secretary General and the
Ombudsman have made the agreement on
the other hand. If it is not possible to reach
an agreement, the decision is made by the
Speaker after consulting the Deputy Speak-
ers.
(4) In accordance with subsection 3, agree-

ments cannot be entered into regarding condi-
tions laid down by statute, in accordance with
law or in accordance with the Standing Orders
of the Danish Parliament, likewise, agreements
which are related to the tasks of the Danish
Parliament or the Ombudsman or to their
organization or to staff requirements cannot
be made.
§ 48
(1) The rules on remuneration and other
conditions of employment which apply to the
various categories of staff employed by the
Danish Parliament also apply to civil servants,
staff employed on a civil servant’s basis and
non-civil servants, who are employed by the
Auditors of Public Accounts, cf. sections 46
and 47. However, agreements on tasks, or-
ganization and staff requirements may not be
entered into, and likewise, decisions in accord-

ance with subsection 7 of section 46 are made
by the Auditors of Public Accounts upon the
approval of the Standing Orders Committee.
Staff employed by the Auditors of Public Ac-
counts are, furthermore, with the exceptions
necessitated by circumstances, comprised
by the general rules which apply to persons
employed by the state.
(2) The provisions on remuneration and other

conditions of employment which apply to state
civil servants, laid down in accordance with
sections 45–49 of the Civil Service Act, also
apply to civil servants employed by the Office
of the Auditor General, unless other measures
are taken in accordance with subsection 5 of
section 18a in the Act on the Audit of the State
Accounts etc. (the Auditor General’s Act).

conditions of employment which apply to civil
servants employed by the Office of the Auditor
General are made by the Auditor General and
the central organizations referred to in section
49 of the Civil Service Act. If it is not possible
to reach an agreement, the decision is made
by the Standing Orders Committee after the
matter has been submitted to the Auditors of
Public Accounts, cf. subsection 5 of section

18a in the Act on the Audit of the State Ac-
counts etc. (the Auditor General’s Act).
§ 49
Civil servants employed by the Administra-
tion of the Danish Parliament, by the Office of
the Auditors of Public Accounts, by the Office
of the Auditor General or by the office of the
Ombudsman of the Danish Parliament are
entitled to a pension in accordance with the
rules which apply to state civil servants, cf.
subsection 2 of section 1 in the Civil Service
Act on Pensions.
§ 50
(1) After consultation with the Deputy Speak-
ers, the Speaker lays down the necessary
regulations pertaining to service in the Danish
Parliament.
(2) The staff and their organizations may

request that their enquiries be brought before
the Speaker, the Presidium or the Standing
Orders Committee in the said order.
§ 51
(1) Estimates of the budget of the Danish Par-
liament, including the estimates of the budgets
elaborated by the Auditors of Public Accounts,
the Auditor General, the Ombudsman of the
Danish Parliament and the Danish Delega-
tion to the Nordic Council – which shall, in so
far as it may prove necessary, indicate staff
estimates – are submitted to the Presidium
for consideration. Not later than May 10th,
the Presidium submits a recommendation to
the Standing Orders Committee. Not later
than May 31st, the Committee concludes its
consideration of the size and composition of
the estimates of the budget. When the budget
has been approved by the Standing Orders
Committee, it is forwarded to the Prime Min-
ister who will make use of it when elaborating
the Finance Bill for the coming financial year.
The Standing Orders Committee recom-
mends that the total amount relating to the
Danish Parliament be entered in the text of the
Finance Bill. The composition of the budget
is entered in the supplementary text to the
Finance Bill.
(2) Proposals for supplementary appropria-

tions to the Danish Parliament, including the
contributions from the Auditors of Public
Accounts, the Auditor General, the Ombuds-

man of the Danish Parliament and the Danish
Delegation to the Nordic Council, are dealt
with in the same manner by the Presidium.
The latter submits a recommendation to the
Standing Orders Committee which concludes
its consideration early enough to ensure that
proposals for supplementary appropriations
be incorporated in the Supplementary Appro-
priation Bill for the financial year under review.
§ 52
(1) Provisions on the accounting and revision of
the Danish Parliament are laid down in regula-
tions, cf. section 50(1).
(2) The accounts are revised by a firm of

chartered accountants, who are appointed by
the Speaker upon the recommendation of the
Deputy Speakers.
(3) The Speaker approves the accounts by

his signature, and a summary of the accounts
is published on one of the Danish Parliament
websites.
§ 53
After a general election, the latest elected
Speaker, provided he/she has been re-elected
to the Danish Parliament – or the one among

the Deputy Speakers having the prior claim –
is entitled to represent the Danish Parliament
and to take the necessary steps on behalf of
the Danish Parliament, pending the appoint-
ment of a temporary Speaker on the day when
the Danish Parliament opens again.
CHAPTER XVIII
Ministers’ responsibility
§ 54
Upon referral or on its own initiative, the
Standing Orders Committee deals with ques-
tions as to whether matters concerning a
Minister shall result in the Minister being held
responsible for the said matter.
§ 55
The Committtee can recommend to the Dan-
ish Parliament that a select committee be set
up in accordance with the rules in the Act on
Select Committees. If such a recommendation
is adopted, the detailed elaboration of the pro-
visions on the tasks belonging under the select
committee is undertaken in cooperation with
the Minister for Justice.
§ 56
All reports elaborated by select committees
on matters pertaining to Ministers, and former
Ministers, are dealt with by the committee with
a view to possibly making a recommendation
on the question of responsibility. The Minis-
ter in question will be given an opportunity to
comment on the committee report.
§ 57
(1) The Minister whose matters are being
investigated is entitled to choose his/her
own observer. The Minister and the Minis-
ter’s observer, if any, are entitled to become
acquainted with the written material of the
inquiry. However, the committee may decide
to limit the Minister’s access to this material,
provided important considerations of for-
eign powers, the security of the Kingdom, the
elucidation of the matter or a third party speak
in favour of so doing. The Minister and his/
her observer, if any, are entitled to attend the
committee’s meetings with other persons. The
observer may put questions to these persons
and is entitled to request the committee to
produce further evidence within the frame-
work applying to the sphere of competence of
the committee. Minutes are taken of the meet-
ings which the Minister attends, and copies of
the minutes are forwarded to the Minister and
to his/her observer.
(2) The committee may appoint one or more

persons to assist the committee in a profes-
sional capacity. These experts shall be impar-
tial and independent of authorities, persons
and others whose private interests are being
investigated or of those who are affected by

the investigation.
(3) Questions shall not be put to civil servants.
§ 58
If the committee on the basis of a report
prepared by a select committee or on another
basis is considering to apply the rules on Min-
isters’ responsibility, the committee shall at
its earliest convenience make the Minister ac-
quainted with the criticism which the commit-
tee intends to include in its recommendation.
The Minister is entitled to request a copy of
the draft for the report. The Minister shall also
have an opportunity to make a written state-
ment to the committee on the existing grounds
and to make his/her points of view clear to the
committee in a more detailed manner. If the
committee’s dealing with the matter should
– in exceptional circumstances – make a sup-
plementary investigation necessary in order to
elucidate some factual conditions, the Minister
should prior to the written or oral questioning
be made acquainted with the factual condi-
tions implied by the investigation.
§ 59
The Standing Orders Committee sets up a
permanent sub-committee in order to deal
with the above-mentioned tasks so that the
sub-committee can make a statement to the
Standing Orders Committee to be used in the
latter’s report or in its report elaborated for
the use of the Danish Parliament. The sub-
committee is composed of one Member from
each of the parliamentary groups represented
on the Standing Orders Committee, as well as
of the observers of this committee from the
remaining parliamentary groups. All Mem-
bers of the sub-committee give their points
of view to the Standing Orders Committee in
the statements of the sub-committtee. The
Standing Orders Committee’s rules on dealing
with cases also apply to the sub-committee.
§ 60
It is up to the Standing Orders Committee to
decide whether its meetings and those of the
subcommittee shall be public or take place
behind closed doors.
CHAPTER XIX
Special parliamentary investigations
§ 61
(1) The Standing Orders Committee sets up
a permanent sub-committee entitled the
Scrutiny Committee with a view to looking into
matters upon which the general public and
Parliament look critically.
(2) The Scrutiny Committee is composed of

one Member of each of the parliamentary
groups represented on the Standing Orders
Committee as well as the observers from
other parliamentary groups who sit on this
Committee.
(3) No changes can be made to the composi-

tion of the Scrutiny Committee counting from
the date on which it was set up and to the end
of the sessional year, cf. however (4) and (5).
(4) If a Member of the Scrutiny Committee

leaves Parliament, the parliamentary group
who appointed the Member in question ap-
points a new Member to replace the former. If
a Member of the Scrutiny Committee leaves
his /her parliamentary group , the Member in
question also leaves the Scrutiny Committee

and his/her parliamentary group appoints a
new Member to replace the former. If a Mem-
ber of the Scrutiny Committee is granted leave
of absence in accordance with the rules in
Chapter XV, the parliamentary group who ap-
pointed the Member in question can appoint a
substitute Member to assume the tasks of the
former during the period of leave.
(5) The Standing Orders Committee can in

cases in which special conditions speak in
favour of so doing allow deviations from (3)
and (4).
(6) The meetings of the Scrutiny Committee

take place behind closed doors.
(7) The Scrutiny Committee elect a

Chairman/-woman and a deputy Chairman/-
woman as soon as the Committee has been
set up. At this election, the vote of each
Member corresponds to the number of Mem-
bers of the parliamentary group which the
Member in question represents. If the office
of Chairman/-woman or deputy Chairman/-
woman becomes vacant, the Committee
elects a new Chairman/-woman or deputy
Chairman/-woman.
§ 62
(1) At the request of Members of the Scrutiny
Committee representing one or more parlia-
mentary groups totalling at least a third of the
Members of Parliament , the Scrutiny Commit-
tee instigates a preliminary investigation of a
case upon which the general public or Parlia-
ment look critically. Such a preliminary investi-
gation is undertaken by the Scrutiny Committee.
(2) In order to shed light on a case as part of a

preliminary investigation, the Scrutiny Com-
mittee may put questions to Ministers for an
oral or a written reply during a consultation
in a meeting in the Scrutiny Committee in ac-
cordance with the rules in section 8 (6).
(3) Consultations in the Scrutiny Committee

are conducted behind closed doors.
(4) Questions to Ministers which are part of a

preliminary investigation are discussed in the
Scrutiny Committee before they are actually
asked. If the Members disagree on the form
or the phrasing of a question , a decision is
reached by a majority vote so that the vote of
each Member corresponds to the number of
Members of the parliamentary group which
the Member in question represents.
§ 63
(1) The Scrutiny Committee may at any time
during the preliminary investigation end the in-
vestigation if the Committee sees no reason to
continue dealing with the matter. A decision to
this effect can only be reached together with a
number of Members of the Scrutiny Commit-
tee who represent one or several parliamen-
tary groups which total at least two thirds of
the Members of Parliament.
(2) Unless the preliminary investigation is

ended in accordance with the provision in (1),
the Scrutiny Committee brings it to an end by
submitting a recommendation to the Standing
Orders Committee, cf. section 64.
§ 64
(1) If Members of the Scrutiny Committee rep-
resenting one or more parliamentary groups,
who together make out at least a third of the
Members of Parliament – subsequent to the
preliminary investigation – find that there is
a need for more investigations, the Scrutiny
Committee requests the Standing Orders
Committee to instigate a proper investigation
of the matter stating which kind of investiga-
tion is required, cf. section 65 (1). If other Mem-
bers of the Scrutiny Committee – representing
one or more parliamentary groups – which

together make out at least a third of the
Members of Parliament- are opposed to a
proper investigation being undertaken or if
the persons in question wish the case to be
read in the Chamber, the Scrutiny Committee
requests the Standing Orders Committee to
read the case in the Chamber.
(2) If there are no Members of the Scrutiny

Committee, who also represent one or more
parliamentary groups, which together make
out at least a third of the Members of Parlia-
ment, who find – subsequent to the prelimi-
nary investigation – that further investigations
are required, the Scrutiny Committee states
in the recommendation which political discus-
sions the case should result in.
§ 65
(1) The Standing Orders Committee decides
in the light of a recommendation from the
Scrutiny Committee, cf. section 64,(1), 1, on
the necessary steps to undertaking a proper
investigation of the matter in one of the follow-
ing ways:
1) An impartial lawyers’ investigation

2) A professional expert elucidation
3) A scrutiny commission, cf. Chapter 1a

in the Act on Investigation Commissions
and Scrutiny Commissions
4) An Investigation Commission, cf.
Chapter 1 in the Act on Investigation
Commissions and Scrutiny
Commissions.
(2) The Standing Orders Committee takes,

upon the recommendation of the Scrutiny
Commission, cf. section 64 (1),2, the necessary
steps to the question of reading in Parliament
an instigation on a proper investigation and on
what form it is to take.
§ 66
(1) The Scrutiny Committee lays down the
rules on impartial lawyers’ investigations or
professional expert elucidations, cf. section
65,(1), nos 1 and 2, including the task of the
instigation or elucidation and the choice of one
or more lawyers or one or more experts who
are to carry out the investigation or elucida-
tion.
(2) The Scrutiny Committee lays down the

terms of reference which apply to a scrutiny
commission, cf. section 65, (1), no.3. The terms
of reference of the commission are laid down
in a manner which ensures that the work of

scrutiny commission may be accomplished
within a year counting from the day on which
it was set up. The Scrutiny Committee ap-
pouints the members of the scrutiny com-
mission including the Chairman/-woman and
questioner.
(3) As for the decisions of the Scrutiny Com-

mittee in accordance with Subsections (1) and
(2), the vote of each Member corresponds to
the number of Members of the parliamentary
group, which the Member in question repre-
sents.
§ 67
The Scrutiny Commission shall on its own
initiative have the possibility of discussing with
the Scrutiny Committee questions about the
direction and progress which the investigation
is taking.
§ 68
(1) The result of an impartial lawyers’ investi-
gation, of a professional elucidation or of an
investigation undertaken by scrutiny com-
mission, cf. section 65, nos. 1-3, are dealt
with by the Scrutiny Committee, cf. how-
ever (2). The Scrutiny Committee submits
a recommendation to the Standing Orders

Committee as to which conclusions or meas-
ures the outcome should lead to.
(2) Accounts made by scrutiny commissions

relating to Ministers and former Ministers are
dealt with according to the rules in Chapter
XVIII.
ANNEX
RULES ON THE TIME ALLOTTED

TO SPEAKERS ETC.
Designation of parliamentary groups

The parliamentary groups may appoint a
spokesman to take part in the debates. The
person in question shall observe the times al-
lotted to speakers which have been laid down.
The term parliamentary group should in this
connection be understood to mean a group
consisting of several Members,
a) who – at the latest general election –

have been elected to represent a cer-
tain party and the parliamentary group
in question continues to represent the
party concerned,
b) who found a new parliamentary group
or a new party – which has been appro-
ved to put up candidates for election,
c) who join an existing political party which
is not represented in the Danish Parlia-
ment but whose Members are entitled
to stand for election, or
d) whose affiliation to the political party
which the group represents is no longer
valid for any of the Members but in
which the Members continue to appear

as a joint group with a common policy.
The groups mentioned under a)–d) are re-

ferred to in the Danish Parliament by a desig-
nation decided by the group, and the Speaker
will decide on an abbreviation of this designa-
tion not exceeding three letters. Individual
Members who fulfil the obligations mentioned
under a)–d) have the same rights.
Ordinary Bills
Oral introduction: 10 minutes
First reading
1st 2nd Following
time time times
Spokesmen for the
Proposers 10 min. 5 min.
Party spokesmen
and other Members 5 min. 3 min.
Ministers 15 min. 10 min. 10 min.
Second reading
1st 2nd Following
time time times
Spokesmen 10 min. 5 min.
Other Members 5 min. 3 min.
Third reading
I. Amendments 1st 2nd Following

time time times
Other Members 5 min.
II. General debate 1st 2nd Following

time time times
If the spokesman for the proposers is also

spokesman for his/her parliamentary group,
the person in question is entitled to speak for
the same duration of time as the spokesman
for the proposers.
If two or more Bills are to be read during the

first or the second reading, the time allotted to
speaking is twice that allotted to the reading
of one single Bill. The time allotted to speaking
when a private proposer submits one single
Bill to be read together with other Bills is, how-
ever, 15 minutes the first time and 8 minutes
the second time if the person in question is
also spokesman for his/her parliamentary

group. Only proposers of Private Members’
Bills introducing at least two Bills at the same
reading have their speaking time doubled.
When the reading of a Bill is resumed, after its
having been suspended owing to its examina-
tion by one of the committees, cf. the second
clause of subsection 1 of section 9, speeches
made before the reading has been resumed
are not subject to the time limits.
The Finance Bill

Oral introduction. No time limits.
First reading
1st 2nd Following
time time times
Ministers No time No time No time
limits limits limits
Second reading
(The time limits also apply to the Supplemen-
tary Appropriation Bill)
1st 2nd Following

time time times
Third reading
(The time limits also apply to the Supplemen-
tary Appropriation Bill)
1st 2nd Following

time time times
Proposals for parliamentary resolution

I. Proposals for parliamentary resolution
moved by the Government or by Members of
the Danish Parliament:
The time allotted to oral introduction is 10
minutes. At first and second (last) readings,
the time allotted is the same as that allotted to
first and third readings of Bills.
II. Other proposals for parliamentary resolu-

tion, unless otherwise provided by the Stand-
ing Orders.
The time allotted to first and second (last)
readings is the same as that allotted to second
and third readings of Bills.
Opening debate and concluding debate

(Section 38 of the Constitutional Act:
Interpellation debate concerning domestic
and foreign policy respectively)
The Speaker lays down the guidelines applying
to each debate.
Ministerial accounts
Introduction: 30 minutes
Debate:
1st 2nd Following
time time times
Debates held at the request of committees

etc., cf. subsections 6–9 of section 19
The time allotted to speaking is the same as
that allotted to first readings.
Questions to the Ministers, cf. subsection 7

of section 20
Minister’s reply 2 min.
Questioner 1 time for 2 min.
Minister’s reply ½ min.
Questioner 2 times for ½ min.,
the Minister each time for ½ min.
Unprepared Question Time,

cf. subsections 10 and 11 of section 20
Prime Minister’s statement 5 min.
Questioner 1st time 2 min.
Prime Ministers’ reply 2 min.
Questioner 2 times for 1 min.
Prime Minister in addition
to the replies, each time for 1 min.
Interpellations
Justification for the interpellation 3 min.
Minister’s reply 15 min.
Subsequently
1st 2nd Following
time time times
Interpellator 5 min. 5 min.
If the interpellator is also spokesman for his/

her parliamentary group, he/she is – after the
justification for the interpellation has been
stated – only entitled to the speaking time al-
lotted to an interpellator.
Proposals to be passed
When a proposal to be passed is moved dur-
ing the debate on a matter, Members who
at that time have spent all their time allotted
to speaking are given an extra 5 minutes to
speak. This also applies if new proposals to be
passed are moved at a later stage during the
same debate (subsection 3 of section 24).
Deviations from the periods of time

allotted to speaking
The Speaker may allow deviations from the
time limits laid down in the Standing Orders
and the Annex to them, if the scope of a mat-
ter renders this necessary. Applications for
extended speaking time should be tabled not
later than 2 days before the sitting in question
is to take place (subsection 2 of section 28). A
wish for extended speaking time – when de-
bating an interpellation – shall be expressed at
the point when the interpellation is handed in.
Members elected in the Faroe Islands

and in Greenland
Members elected in the Faroe Islands and in
Greenland are allotted the same time to speak
as spokesmen for the parliamentary groups.
Short remarks
Irrespective of the set speaking times, the
Speaker may to the extent which he deems
reasonable give Members the floor in order for
them to make two short remarks, the first one
of 1 minute’s duration and the second one of
half a minute’s duration. Under special circum-
stances, the Speaker may give a Member the
floor for several or for more protracted short
remarks. Following the answer to an interpel-

lation, Members who will be spokespersons
during the following debate may, to the extent
which the Speaker deems reasonable, be giv-
en the floor in order to make one short remark.
(subsection 3 of section 28, and subsection 3
of section 21).
Accounts and interpellations to be read

jointly
If an account and an interpellation are read
jointly, the rules on speaking time which apply
to the reading of interpellations after the Min-
ister’s reply to the interpellation shall apply.
Folketinget
The Danish Parliament
Christiansborg
DK-1240 København K
Tel. +45 3337 5500

www.ft.dk
ft@ft.dk

Denmark

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Standing Orders

Temporary Speaker, Scrutiny of Elections

(2) The Danish Parliament sets up a temporary

(3) The committee examines the records of

(4) Elections which are unanimously approved

(5) As for elections which are not unanimously

(6) As for Members who have been elected in

(7) The decision as to whether an election is

(8) Members whose election has not been

(9) A Member whose election has been ap-

Speaker, Deputy Speakers, Tellers

(2) Elections are held at the opening of every

(3) Elections of Members to sit on the Presid-

(2) Tellers are elected according to propor-

(2) The Speaker chairs the debates in the

(3) Should the Speaker wish to take part in the

(2) If at least two Tellers are not present at a

1. The Standing Orders Committee

18. The Fiscal Affairs Committee

(2) The Standing Orders Committee lays down

(3) The Standing Orders Committee is com-

in the debates of the Committee but who is not

(4) The Electoral Scrutineers’ Committee, The

(5) Members who belong to a parliamentary

that order must be notified to the Speaker of

(6) At the opening of each session, the Danish

(7) The Danish Parliament can also set up ad

(8) An ad hoc committee can also be set

question is about to be read in the Chamber, if

Legal Services Office about the election. If the

(2) If a Chairman or a Vice-Chairman is to be

(3) Ordinary committee meetings are held

(4) Only the Committee Members can take

its Members are present. Decisions are taken

(5) Upon request, a committee may decide to

(6) A committee may ask a Minister to reply

(7) Persons participating in a closed com-

The committee cannot take the decision to

(8) A consultation may be open or closed. An

(9) In addition to ordinary meetings, a commit-

a) Open meetings during which one or

competence of the committee. The

(10) A hearing may be held jointly by several

(11) The European Affairs Committee may

(12) When Bills or proposals for parliamentary

be – has not been elected to sit on the com-

(13) Members of the Danish Parliament elected

(14) A Member who takes a special interest in a

(15) The committee clerk draws up the minutes

(16) Standing as well as ad hoc committees

committee work shall be made at the Speak-

(2) When a committee has finished deal-

(3) However, when the committee has sub-

the third reading of a Bill if the committee has

(4) When a Bill has been referred to a com-

(5) Recommendations from the standing

of the Danish Parliament, who subsequently

(6) A committee can make a statement on

(2) The Speaker can submit motions concern-

(2) The Government may, in non-session

(3) In view of the planning of the legisla-

(4) No Bill shall be passed finally until it has

(2) When the reading has come to a close,

a) Open meetings during which one or